http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?in...
this is my video card

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...
here is my psu

And here is my problem, I install the video card, everything powers up, including the video card, the fan comes on, the HDD and cpu fans kick on. Mouse and Keyboard never power up, so i'm not sure if the comp is locking up on the bios screen, or what? but, the monitor stays blank, the light never changes, just stays in "sleep" mode. I have tried 2 different monitors and 2 different computers. Also I am using a 512 pci-e video card now and everythings works just fine when I reequip this video card. Main concern is "Is this video card compatible, if so, then my assumption of a faulty card is correct", Unless someone has any other advice that I am completely open to, and/or suggestions. This is my motherboard info.

Computer: Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OS Service Pack Service Pack 2 DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c) Computer Name EARL (Main) User Name Owner Motherboard: CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2000 MHz (10 x 200) 3000+ Motherboard Name Unknown Motherboard Chipset ATI Radeon Xpress 200, AMD Hammer System Memory 2048 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM) BIOS Type Award (06/12/05) Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)
Motherboard 06/12/2005-RS480-SB400-6A666M4HC-00 Motherboard DMIMOBO: MICRO-STAR MS-7145 Motherboard DMISYS: Gateway W3400 Motherboard W7145AE7 V1.09 061205 16:43:47 PCI/AGP 10DE-0422: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS [NoDB]
Comment by zarthelas, posted on Apr 22, 2008
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...

1 more question, can I use this instead of the normal 4pin connector that the psu provides, and convert a 6pin 12v connector to a 4pin connector and connect it to the motherboard without frying anything?

Is this a new build? Did you benchtest the MBoard?

Are you kidding? Why in the hell would you pay $164+ for an 8600GT with 1GB DDR2 when an 8600GT with 256MB GDDR3 would kick the crap out of it?? And at less than 1/2 the price too!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...

As for the power supply, the specs look good but I never heard of that manufacturer before. Google doesn't turn up much about them either. Why are you wasting so much money on a Gateway/eMachine?

I suggest you return both the card & PSU & get your money back, then go to newegg & get something decent.

Did you REMOVE the AC power to the case when you plugged in / unplugged the NVidia video card? If you didn't you may have fried the card.

ATX mboards are always powered in some places as long as live AC is being supplied to the power supply and the power supply is connected to the mboard, even when the computer is not running.
You should ALWAYS remove the AC power to your case/power supply whenever you make any connection changes or unplug or plug in ram or any card inside your case.
E.g. If the computer is plugged into a power bar, switching off the power bar removes the AC but the case is still grounded through the power bar and the power cord to the case if both are still plugged in.
.......

FYI having more memory of the same type on a video card does not translate into it will run faster or perform better at the resolutions commonly used. After a certain minimal point the amount of memory on a video card with the same chipset running at the same speed has NO EFFECT on whether the card will run faster at commomly used resolutions. More memory allows you to run video at higher or huge resolutions most people can't use at speeds similar to lower resolutions, or at least at higher speeds than when there is less memory - if you don't have a huge monitor you can use the higher resolutions with, you're wasting your money buying one with more memory on it.

Jam, as for any smart ass answers, go elsewhere, i came for advice, not criticism or flaming. As for "why in the hell would I"? Someone was kind enough to try and purchase equipment for me as a gift, and I'm trying to work with what I have. If this weren't a public forum, I'd have alot more to say to you. As well, the only peice of the computer that is still considered "emachine/gateway" is the motherboard, everything else is new. Do I plan on going ahead with a new motherboard yes.

Yes I unplugged everything before I inserted the card. As I said previously, the card I have now is working just fine, taking it in and out of my motherboard. *same slot* My main concern is do i have enough power for the card with this motherboard/psu combination, and is it compatible? I already have returned and getting a replacement incase it was faulty. If you can help me with what I am concerned with thanks, anyone else who wants to bitch and argue and criticize then I bet your computer runs great, but your real life sucks.

Hey, I can help & criticize at the same time...it's my nature. If you've got something to say that can't be addressed in the forum, PM me.

"the only peice of the computer that is still considered "emachine/gateway" is the motherboard, everything else is new"

The motherboard IS what makes your system a Gateway/eMachine. I bet the logo is still displayed on the bootscreen, right?

"do i have enough power for the card with this motherboard/psu combination, and is it compatible?"

I have no idea if that PSU is any good or not. Like I said, the specs are good but I have no idea who PowerUP! is. The PSU is arguably THE most important piece of hardware in a system. That being said, 800W is MORE than enough power for what you have...you could eaily get by with a quality 350-400W unit.

Your motherboard is listed above as MS-7145 which apparently is the OEM version of the MSI RS480M-IL:

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/...

The board has a PCI-e x16 slot & you have a PCI-e x16 video card, so compatibilty isn't a problem. If you've tried the card in two PCs & it doesn't work in either, it's most likely a bad card. It's WAY overpriced anyway. See if you (or whoever bought it) can return it.

If you change the MBoard your restore disks will no longer work and you will need to buy Windows again.

I have a copy of vista already. I'm not a novice with computers, I just couldn't get a clear definition as to wether my card and mobo were compatible. Some sites show an 8600gt as a 1.1 or a 2.0 pci-e card, and to my understanding, 2.0 is only backwards compatible to 1.1, seeing my motherboard is 1.0, and various sites state that the card is 2.0 or the card just requires a pci-e slot. So, Jam, a pci-ex16 card is not just compatible with any pci-ex16 slot. Let me be more clear with my question,

So, am i right that my mobo is 1.0 pciex16, and if so, is the card compatible with the 1.0 (i've searched alot and can't find a clear answer as to if that card is 1.0 or 1.1 or 2.0) i know if the card is 2.0 then it's not compatible with my (assuming) 1.0 pcie mobo.

Take a look at the link below. Notice the reference to nVidia compatiblity problems. As far as PCIe 1.0, 1a, 1.1, or 2.0. It shouldn't make a difference which of these standards you have when using a 2.0 card.

You are connecting power directly to the card? Is your PSU suffiecently powerful? If PSU is multirail design balance the loads.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/chipse...

"i know if the card is 2.0 then it's not compatible with my (assuming) 1.0 pcie mobo"

That's incorrect. It's called backwards compatibility. Same as being able to run an 8X AGP card in a 4X AGP slot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Ex...

No, powering the video card with it's own seperate cable isn't an option. The card itself is powered through the pci-e slot alone. I checked the card over a couple of times just to make sure I wasn't blind lol. The only optional plug that it has is a 2 pin female connector for audio (L/R) You mentioned that if it is multi-rail, to balance the loads? I'm not sure what you mean, is that ONLY if i am connecting power directly to the card. Or is there a way of doing so through the 4pin connector that connects to the motherboard. I linked a 6pin to 4pin adapter that would convert one of my +12v rail outputs to a 4pin (not molex 4 pin, but the square 4pin) in my first post. Is that an option to supply more power through the motherboard? And is the square 4pin adapter used just for my pci-e slot, or does it provide the other rails of power through that pin as well?

Sorry if i seem to run everything together, I've read hundreds of forums and pages and haven't figured out what I'm needing to know, (frustration sets in)

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...

this is the link I was referring to for the 6 to 4pin atx adapter.

I don't know if the square 4 pin connector feeds the entire MBoard. However, I don't think so because the first I saw of them was with P4 processors. So I am assumming the first P4s were power hungry and that was the purpose. The comment about balancing the load refers to your PSU. Some have multiple rails. Loading everything on one rail can starve those components of current.

If you DON'T have that square 4 pin connector your PSU must be old. That may be your problem. What is the model of your PSU (power supply)

Did you look at the link I posted above? There is mention of backward compatibility issues with some nvidia PCIe cards on older systems. That could also be your issue.

The square 4-pin plug feeds the CPU thru the +12v1 rail. It's not shared with any other components. That's one of the reasons the multi rail PSU design has fallen out of favor. The PSU you linked to specs 28A on the +12v1 rail. If the CPU requires 8A, the remaining 20A is wasted...it just sits there & cannot be used. The rest of the hardware feeds off the +12v2 rail which also specs at 28A. That's plenty for the hardware that you have. Your video card is nothing special. It's not high end & doesn't have any unusual power requirements. An 800W PSU is overkill for your system. With the exception of the video card, all you really have is a standard eMachine...400W would have been plenty.

I don't understand why you're coverting a 6-pin PCI-E plug to a 4-pin plug? Your PSU already has a 4-pin plug. USE IT! That's what it's there for.

The only reason I ask, is because I wasn't sure if the spare +12v rail 6 pin could be converted to a 4pin and provide more power to my motherboard, rather than the 1/2 8pin connector that I am using now, thus converting 28amps to the board rather than w/e the 1/2 8pin connector might have been supplying.

You don't understand why I'm converting b/c I'm not converting, it was a question, not a statement.